Scientific Diving

HIMB facilitates scientific diving activities by UH faculty, students, and visiting scientists. Dive training courses are offered annually to UH scientists and students to support their research. Combined with a small research fleet of boats, the training, services, and equipment of the HIMB Scientific Diving facility allow for the planning and completion of research projects in just about every ocean discipline.

UH Scientific Diver Requirements

Contact Details

The University of Hawaii is an Organizational Member of the American Academy of Underwater Sciences (AAUS) and complies with the national diving standards set by this agency. Divers looking for authorization to conduct research using compressed gases must complete extensive requirements including the 150-hour Scientific Diver Qualification Course offered through the UH Manoa campus and at HIMB. Divers already accredited and in current status through another AAUS institution may be eligible for reciprocity.

Any proposed diving activies under the auspices of UH require prior approval from the UH Diving Safety Program. UH scientific divers are also required to follow protocol as outlined in the UH Diving Safety Manual and submit a monthly dive log to the UH DSP. All forms and further information can be found at the UH Diving Safety Program (UHDSP website).

HIMB Scientific Diver Qualification Course

The HIMB SDQC is an intensive two week course that runs every day from 8am-6pm. The course cost is $750.00 and includes all materials, use of HIMB cylinders (air and nitrox), and use of HIMB boats during the class. Divers must provide all of their own scuba equipment including weights. Location of the course is at HIMB, Kaneohe, Hawaii, USA.

Equipment

The HIMB dive locker maintains scuba and breathing air equipment for use by authorized divers in the program. Our Bauer compressor air quality is tested semi-annually to CGA Grade E Modified for Oxygen Compatibility standards (current results are here). We have the ability to partial-pressure blend standard and custom nitrox and decompression gas mixes, fill rebreather oxygen and diluent cylinders, and fill emergency oxygen kit cylinders. The dive locker scuba cylinder inventory includes various sizes of aluminum and steel cylinders for use with air and nitrox mixes.